All Roads Lead to Washington, D.C.

1) Bishop Michael Bransfieldresigned and the resignation was accepted. Bransfield served for 24 years at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., most of the time as rector. He was then ordained a bishop, choosing Theodore McCarrick as co-consecrator.

2) Archbishop William Lori, who ran the Archdiocese of Washington (D.C.) throughout the 1990s (holding several high-level positions, including moderator of the curia and auxiliary bishop), will investigate allegations against Bishop Bransfield. During Bransfield’s time at the D.C. basilica shrine, Lori had oversight over Bransfield. (For instance, the Washington chancery instructs which bishops — and even cardinals — are banned from offering sacraments at the basilica shrine, a practice that still continues).

3) All this follows the scandal of Theodore McCarrick, former archbishop of Washington, who handpicked his successor in D.C., Donald Wuerl. The two men were the leaders of the movement to give Communion to politicians who openly dissent from Church teachings.

4) Cardinal Donald Wuerl has announced he will be going to the Vatican to discuss his resignation, which implies it will soon be accepted by Pope Francis. Not mentioned yet is Wuerl’s membership on the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops, where Pope Francis chose him to replace Cardinal Raymond Burke just nine month’s into this papacy. Two Americans sit on the extremely prestigious congregation that selects all new bishops — Cardinal Blase Cupich being the other

5) The replacement for Cardinal Wuerl will be the next piece in this saga. It is presumed, given his Congregation for Bishops post, Cardinal Wuerl has handpicked his successor.

6) Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, based in Washington, D.C., is himself facing allegations of a priestly transfer and cover-up in his archdiocese.